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Federal Funding Freeze Sparks Debate Over Free Speech and Academic Freedom

The Trump administration has taken a controversial step by freezing federal grants to several universities, including Cornell and Northwestern, citing concerns over pro-Palestinian protests and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies. Over $1 billion in funding for Cornell and $790 million for Northwestern have been paused, affecting research in defense, health, and cybersecurity.  The administration has accused these universities of failing to address antisemitism on campus, linking pro-Palestinian protests to support for Hamas. Critics argue that this conflation undermines free speech and academic freedom, with human rights advocates raising concerns about the broader implications.  This move has sparked a heated debate about the balance between combating hate speech and preserving the right to protest. Universities like Harvard and Princeton are also under scrutiny, with billions in federal funding at stake.  The situation highlights the tension between governm...
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Investigation into Baltimore Bridge Collapse Picks Up Speed as Divers Search for Missing Workers

 

U.S. federal safety investigators have recovered the black box from the freight ship that crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing its collapse. Rescuers are now searching for the remains of six construction workers who were lost in the tragic incident.

The cargo ship, a 948-foot (289-meter) Singapore-flagged container vessel named Dali, collided with a pillar of the 1.6-mile (2.6 km) bridge in the early morning darkness on Tuesday. The impact caused a trestled section of the bridge to crumple into the water, sending vehicles and workers into the frigid, 50-foot-deep waters at the mouth of the Patapsco River.

Key Details:

  • Black Box Recovery: Investigators from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) retrieved the data recorder after boarding the ship late on Tuesday. They will interview the ship’s crew and other survivors.
  • Closure of Port of Baltimore: The disaster forced the indefinite closure of the Port of Baltimore, one of the busiest on the U.S. Eastern Seaboard, creating a traffic quagmire for Baltimore and the surrounding region.
  • Rescues and Tragedy: Rescuers managed to pull two construction workers from the water alive on Tuesday, but six others are presumed to have perished. Among the missing are immigrants from Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador.
  • Bridge Code Compliance: Maryland Governor Wes Moore stated that the bridge was up to code with no known structural issues.
  • Preventing Higher Casualties: The container vessel had reported a loss of propulsion shortly before impact and dropped anchor to slow down, allowing transportation authorities to halt traffic on the bridge before the crash. This likely prevented a higher death toll.

The investigation into this tragic incident will provide a timeline of events, shedding light on how and why the cargo ship collided with the bridge. Meanwhile, divers continue their search for the missing workers, navigating mangled metal in the dark waters where lives were lost.


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